Warning! If you dislike poppies, you probably aren’t going to like this latest blog post. Granted, you’ll find a stray lupine or two, some sunflowers, a buttercup, a thistle and a really strange looking Star Trek-ish two tiered flower. But California poppies, our state flower, really steal the show. To make it easy, after a few more words here, I’ve put the images into a gallery.

Today marks 100 days until I begin my John Muir Trail adventure. I’ll be attempting the full 220 miles from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney. On my local training hikes, like the one I did on Mt. Diablo yesterday, I love some of the looks I get from tourists and day hikers when I’m coming up or down trail with my full 40-pound pack. I can’t tell if they admire my strength or think I’m deranged. Some just shake their heads, say hello, and give me a wide berth. One hundred days still seems like a interminable amount of time, but the number was about 250 when I first decided to green-light the trip last November so I know it’ll eventually get here…eventually. More updates will certainly follow, but for now, enjoy the poppies.

Poppies and erodium

Poppies and chia (purple flowers in background)

Chia (salvia columbariae) on the Summit Trail

Poppies and sunflowers

Lupines

Lupines on the Summit Trail near Junction

Sunflowers & pinecones on the Summit Trail

Lupines

Cobweb Thistle on the Summit Trail

Western wallflowers blooming amid the burn area on Mt. Diablo

Brewer’s rock cress and lichens – Juniper Trail

Poppies, chamise and chaparral – Juniper Trail

Poppies on the southern slopes of Mt. Diablo

Chia – Summit Trail

California poppies and sunflowers on the Juniper Trail

Sunflowers and sky

Sunflowers along the Summit Trail

Blue-eyed grass and buttercups

Poppies blooming near Juniper Campground

Late afternoon sun on the hills

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About victorvolta

I am a freelance photographer/writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I grew up in the very suburban city of Santa Clara. Education: San Jose State University (class of '84) BA degree in Journalism with concentrations in Photojournalism and English. Favorite Foods: Ribeye steaks and Stan's Doughnuts (separate plates, usually). Favorite Drinks: Strong gourmet coffee and Trader Joe's Blood Orange Italian Soda (separate cups).